Fluoroquinolone prophylaxis for bacterial infections in neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies

Abstract

Introduction: The use of fluoroquinolones as prophylaxis for bacterial infections in patients with chemotherapy induced neutropenia is debatable. The present study was conducted to assess the prophylactic efficacy of fluoroquinolones in adult neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies.

Materials and methods: For the period 1994 through 2000 a prospective, randomized trial was conducted at the University Clinic of Hematology (Medical University, Plovdiv). Two groups of patients were included--experimental group, consisting of 36 patients with 41 granulocytopenic episodes and a control group of 34 patients with 41 granulocytopenic episodes. Non parametrical and psi methods were used for statistical analysis. Kaplan-Meier test was employed to determine patients' survival rate. Comparison of survival rates between the two groups was performed using the log-rank test.

Results: A statistically significant difference between the two groups was found in the number of infection-free neutropenic episodes (P < 0.001), in infection-related mortality rate (p = 0.001) and mortality rate within 1 month of the onset of infection (p < 0.001). Difference in long term survival rates was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Prophylaxis with fluoroquinolones reduced the occurrence of infection in adult neutropenic patients without affecting the long-term survival. Moreover, it is especially beneficial for patients with severe neutropenia and during the active phase of the disease.